Kinesthetic device with different seating orientations

ABSTRACT

A kinesthetic device with different seating orientations comprises a base unit, an actuator unit, a platform unit, and a seat unit. The base unit includes a base seat. The actuator unit includes an actuator module disposed on the base seat. The platform unit includes a platform body disposed on the actuator module. The seat unit includes plural seats disposed at the edge of the platform body, wherein the orientations of the plural seats are different, so that it can have the plural seats provide with different kinesthesia.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a kinesthetic device, and moreparticularly to a kinesthetic device with different seatingorientations.

b) Description of the Prior Art

There are usually two types of facilities in general amusement parks.One is used for games in reality, such as a roller coaster, which allowsthe users to experience the speed and G-Force. Another is a virtualkinesthesia facility, which uses sound and visual effect with movementof a dynamic platform to create virtual kinesthesia.

In general, there is a video player set in front of a dynamic simulationdevice and play dynamic movies with an audio equipment. A dynamicsimulation device comprises a dynamic platform with seats arranged ontop of it, by controlling the actuator in accordance with the movie, theplatform and the seats can be moved in multiple degrees of freedom suchas surging, heaving, pitching and rolling, and make the users sitting onthe platform feel like they were literally inside the movie.

Referring to FIG. 1, it shows a dynamic simulation device disclosed in aTaiwanese Patent Publication No. M484450, including a base 11, aplatform 12 and an actuator assembly 13 disposed between the base 11 andthe platform 12. The actuator assembly 13 controls the position of theplatform 12 and swings the platform 12 with respect to the base 11.

Plural seats 14 which accommodate plural users are disposed on top ofthe platform 12. The orientations of the plural seats 14 are the same,so that the users on the seats 14 can experience the same kinesthesiawhile receiving the same audiovisual information.

Although aforementioned dynamic simulation device can simulatekinesthesia, there are still some defects in practical implementation.

1. Limited Installation Location

-   -   The plural seats have its own height, and the height for        visitors' entrance should also be maintained. Because the plural        seats are disposed on the platform, considering the height of        the actuator assembly, the ceiling where the prior art dynamic        simulation device is installed is higher, and the installation        location cannot be on the common floors.

2. Unable to Increase Revenue

-   -   With the same orientation of the plural seats, the users can        only experience the same kinesthesia and watch the same movie,        and from a consumer's point of view, they tend not to ride on        the same facility more than once, thus, the facility is unable        to increase revenue.

3. Unreal Kinesthesia

-   -   In early days, the Stewart platform was a device designed to        train pilots, and it's used to simulate the kinesthesia of a        single person with certain audiovisual information. However, in        the amusement park, to increase revenue, plural seats are        disposed on the platform to accommodate more people, but due to        different positions of the seats, when the platform is pitched        forward by the actuator, the users sit at the front part of the        platform will experience leaning forward kinesthesia while        descending, and the users sit at the rear part of the platform        will experience leaning forward kinesthesia while ascending,        thus, the kinesthesia of the users cannot always be matched with        the audiovisual information.

How to improve the device to provide better kinesthesia with differentaudiovisual information in a limited space and create more revenue, areobjectives that the relevant professionals need to strive for.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an objective of an embodiment of the present invention isto provide a kinesthetic device with different seating orientations,comprising a base unit, an actuator unit, a platform unit, and a seatunit.

The base unit includes a base seat.

The actuator unit includes an actuator module disposed on the base seat.

The platform unit includes a platform body disposed on the actuatormodule.

The seat unit includes plural seats with different orientations disposedat the edge of the platform body.

Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention is that theaforementioned platform body is circular in shape, and the plural seatsare disposed respectively on the tangent line of the circular platformbody.

Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention is that theaforementioned platform body is polygonal in shape, and the plural seatsare disposed respectively on the sides of the polygonal platform body.

Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention is that theaforementioned plural seats are adjacent to one another side by side intheir length direction at a certain distance.

Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention is that theaforementioned actuator module is a six-axis actuator assembly of theStewart platform

Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention is that theaforementioned kinesthetic device with different seating orientationsfurther comprises a position adjustment unit, which includes pluralposition adjustment modules disposed between the plural seats and theplatform body, to adjust the positions of the plural seats respectively.

Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention is that theaforementioned seat unit further includes a safety component.

Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention is that theaforementioned kinesthetic device with different seating orientationsfurther comprises a control unit, which includes a control moduleconnected electrically to the actuator module, and an audiovisual moduleconnected electrically to the control module.

Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention is that theaforementioned audiovisual module is composed of plural video and audioplayback components.

Another technique of an embodiment of the present invention is that theaforementioned audiovisual module includes plural memory components tostore different audiovisual data, so that the plural video and audioplayback components can play different audiovisual information.

The benefits of the present invention lie in that with the differentorientations of the plural seats, the users on the seats can alsoexperience different kinesthesia; with the plural seats disposed at theouter side of the platform body, the height of the kinesthetic devicecan be reduced; with the audiovisual module providing differentaudiovisual information, the users on the plural seats can experiencekinesthesia with matching audiovisual information

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view, a dynamic simulation device disclosed ina Taiwanese Patent Publication No. M484450;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view, illustrating a first preferred embodimentaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view, illustrating a side view of the firstpreferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart, illustrating a control unit of the firstpreferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view, illustrating a second preferredembodiment according to the present invention; and

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view, illustrating a top view of a thirdpreferred embodiment according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The features and technical contents of this invention will be clearlypresented with detailed descriptions and drawings of the following threepreferred embodiments. Before proceeding with the detailed description,it should be noted that similar elements are labeled with the samereference number.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, a first preferred embodimentaccording to the present invention is depicted, comprising a base unit31, an actuator unit 32, a platform unit 33, a seat unit 34, and acontrol unit 36.

The base unit 31 includes a base seat 311. Preferably, the base seat 311is a metal structure disposed and fixed on the ground, to support theforce and weight of the actuator unit 32, and also provide pivotalconnection to the actuator unit 32. In a practical implementation, thebase seat 311 can be disposed on a turntable structure or a slide railstructure, and so should not be construed as limiting the invention.

The actuator unit 32 includes an actuator module 321 disposed on thebase seat 311. In the first preferred embodiment, a six-axis actuatorassembly of the Stewart platform is served as the actuator module 321.It can simulate the kinesthesia by using its six linear actuators tochange the deflection angle of the platform unit 33. In a practicalimplementation, other kinesthesia actuator can be selected to sway ormove the platform unit 33, and so should not be construed as limitingthe invention.

The platform unit 33 includes a platform body 331 disposed on theactuator module 321. The platform body 331 is a steel structure fixed onthe actuator module 321, and the actuator module 321 controls theposition of the platform body 331, so that the platform body 331 cansway with respect to the base seat 311.

The platform body 331 is polygonal in shape, in the first preferredembodiment, the shape of the platform body 331 is an equilateraltriangle. The six-axis actuator assembly of the Stewart platform, servedas the actuator module 321, and the platform body 331 are pivotallyconnected at the midpoint of each side of the triangle-shaped platformbody 331, so that the actuators can work collaboratively to change theposition and movement of the platform body 331. In a practicalimplementation, the shape of the platform body 331 can be any polygonother than equilateral triangle, and so should not be construed aslimiting the invention.

The seat unit 34 includes plural seats 341 disposed with differentorientations at the edge of the platform body 331. In the firstpreferred embodiment, the shape of the platform body 331 is anequilateral triangle, and there are three seats 341 disposedrespectively on top of each side of the platform body 331. The pluralseats 341 are adjacent to one another side by side in their lengthdirection at a certain distance and with an included angle in between.Precisely speaking, the included angle formed by two adjacent seats 341will not be less than 60 degrees, so that the plural seats 341 can becombined to form a shape of triangle or other polygons, which canincrease the capacity of the device with the same mechanism withoutlosing kinesthetic effect.

The inventor wants to emphasize that because the plural seats 341 aredisposed at the edge of the platform body 331, according to theprinciple of lever, when the actuator module 321 swings the platformbody 331, the movement of the plural seats 341 will be more severe thanthe center of the platform body 331, and the users on the plural seats341 can experience more intense kinesthesia.

Each of the plural seats 341 is disposed respectively on top of eachside of the steel structure of the platform body 331 and each seat 341accommodates at least one user. In the first preferred embodiment, thewidth of each seat 341 is approximately the same as the side length ofthe platform body 331 and accommodates plural users.

Each seat 341 provides a seat plate and a back plate, and the sittingdirection of the users are the same as the orientations of the pluralseats 341. In the first preferred embodiment, the plural seats 341 arefixed on top of the equilateral triangular steel structure of theplatform body 331, and the orientations of the plural seats 341 areopposite to the center of the platform body 331.

The control unit 36 includes a control module 361 connected electricallyto the actuator module 321, and an audiovisual module 362 connectedelectrically to the control module 361. The audiovisual module 362 iscomposed of plural video and audio playback components to provide imageand sound respectively, and it is provided with plural memory components363 to store different audiovisual data, so that the plural video andaudio playback components can play different audiovisual information.

The inventor wants to emphasize that since the platform body 331 of thefirst preferred embodiment is equilateral triangular in shape, and theorientations of the plural seats 341 are opposite to the center of theplatform body 331, so the line of sight of the users on the plural seats341 are not the same. Thus, when the actuator module 321 swings theplatform body 331, the users on different seats 341 can experiencedifferent kinesthesia.

For example, a six-axis Stewart platform can provide kinesthetic effectin six degrees of freedom by pitching, yawing, rolling, surging,heaving, and swaying to the platform body 331, when the users on one ofthe seats 341 experience forward leaning, the users on other seats 341may experience backward leaning. The kinesthesia is completelydifferent.

Therefore, the audiovisual module 362 can program an audiovisual datafor each of the plural seats 341 and store the data in the plural memorycomponents 363, so that the users on different seats 341 may receivedifferent audiovisual information.

It is preferable to set a panoramic screen around the kinesthetic deviceand use plural video and audio playback components to project the imageonto the panoramic screen, so the users on the plural seats 341 canexperience kinesthesia with matching audiovisual information. In apractical implementation, the plural video and audio playback componentscan be plural head-mounted display devices and earphones, and so shouldnot be construed as limiting the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a second preferred embodiment according to presentinvention. The second preferred embodiment is generally the same as thefirst preferred embodiment, and therefore the similarities will not bedescribed in detail herein after. The difference between the twopreferred embodiments is that the plural seats 341 of the secondpreferred embodiment are disposed on the outer sides of the platformbody 331, so that the total height for installing the present inventioncan be reduced.

The second preferred embodiment further comprises a position adjustmentunit 35, which includes plural position adjustment modules 351 disposedbetween the plural seats 341 and the platform body 331, to adjust thepositions of the plural seats 341 respectively.

Each position adjustment module 351 includes a vertical adjustmentcomponent and a horizontal adjustment component. The vertical adjustmentcomponent can adjust the vertical position or the height of the pluralseats 341, while the horizontal adjustment component can adjust thedistance between the plural seats 341 and the center of the platformbody 331. Preferably, a ball screw can be used as the verticaladjustment component, and a linear guide can be used as the horizontaladjustment component. In a practical implementation, types of theadjustment component should not be limited thereto.

As the position adjustment module 351 raises the position of the seats341, the users' feet will be dangled below while sitting on the pluralseats 341; as the position adjustment module 351 lowers the position ofthe seats, the users can easily sit on or get up from the seats 341.When the position adjustment module 351 shifts the seats 341 outward,the users sitting on the seats 341 will experience more intensekinesthesia according to principle of lever.

The inventor wants to emphasize that the position adjustment module 351does not participate in the control of kinesthesia, the positionadjustment module 351 will stop acting after moving the seats 341 to theright position, while the actuator module 321 is in total charge of thecontrol of kinesthesia.

Besides, in the second preferred embodiment, the plural seats 341 aredisposed on the outer side of the platform body 331, when the positionadjustment module 351 lowers the position of the seats 341, the heightof the plural seats 341 can be the same as the actuator module, so thetotal height for installing the kinesthetic device can be effectivelyreduced. Thus, the present invention can be installed directly on theground, and the users can easily sit on the seats 341 without walkingthrough a ladder stage, and there is no need to modify the building todispose the actuator module 321 underground.

In addition, when the seat 341 is disposed on the outer side of theplatform body 331, both the moving speed and moving distance of theplural seats 341 increase due to principle of lever, and the users onthe plural seats 341 can experience more intense kinesthesia as well.

The seat unit 34 also includes a safety component 342 disposed in theseat 341. Preferably, a seat belt can be used as the safety component342 to hold the user on the seat 341, guaranteeing the user from anyphysical injury while riding on the kinesthetic device. In a practicalimplementation, types of the safety component 342 should not be limitedthereto.

FIG. 6 shows a third preferred embodiment according to presentinvention. The third preferred embodiment is generally the same as thesecond preferred embodiment, and therefore the similarities will not bedescribed in detail herein after. The difference between the twopreferred embodiments is that the platform body 331 is circular inshape, and the plural seats 341 are disposed respectively on the tangentline of the platform body 331.

In the third preferred embodiment, the platform body 331 is a circularsteel structure fixed on the actuator module 321, and there are twelveseats 341 averagely disposed on the outer side of the platform body 331with their orientation opposite to the center of the platform body 331,and each seat 341 accommodates one user. In a practical implementation,the number and capacity of the plural seats 341 should not be limitedthereto.

The inventor wants to emphasize that the early Stewart platform wasmainly used for simulating the kinesthesia of a single person, toprovide kinesthetic effect in six degrees of freedom. Later, theplatform was used as an amusement facility with multiple seats disposedon it, but the early audio-video playback device can only providesingle-screen image, so the seats must all face the same directiontoward the screen, and due to the restriction of the Stewart platformmechanism, the users wouldn't be able to experience the same kinesthesiawhile watching the same image.

With advances of audio-video playback technology, the panoramic image iswidely used in various facilities. In this invention, the plural seats341 are disposed on the outer side of the platform body 331 and theorientation of the plural seats 341 is opposite to the center of theplatform body 331, so the kinesthesia of the users can be matched withthe 360-degree panoramic image.

In addition, the height for installing the entire kinesthetic device canbe effectively reduced by disposing the plural seats 341 on the outerside of the platform body 331, so that the whole device can fit in ageneral building's floor and can be directly installed without modifyingthe building structures.

From aforementioned descriptions, it is known that the present inventionis indeed provided with following benefits:

1. More Intense Kinesthesia

-   -   Since the seats 341 are disposed at the edge of the platform        body 331, when the actuator module 321 swings the platform body        331, both the moving speed and moving distance of the plural        seats 341 increased due to the principle of lever, thus, the        users on the plural seats 341 can experience more intense        kinesthesia.

2. Cost Saving

-   -   Since the plural seats 341 are disposed on the outer side of the        platform body 331, the height for installing the kinesthetic        device can be effectively reduced, so that the kinesthetic        device can be installed directly on the ground or inside a        general building's floor. The users can easily sit on the seats        341 without walking through a ladder stage or modifying the        building structure to dispose the actuator module 321        underground, thus, the installation cost can be saved        effectively.

3. Dangled Feet

-   -   According to the aforementioned description, even if the        kinesthetic device is installed inside a building's floor, the        position adjustment module 351 can still change the vertical        position of the seats 341, thus, allow the users' feet to be        dangled below, so there is no need to modify the structure of        the seat or the building to reach the same effect.

4. Experience Different Kinesthesia

-   -   The orientations of the plural seats 341 are opposite to the        center of the platform body 331, so that the line of sights of        the users sit on the plural seats 341 are different, and the        kinesthetic effects of each seat 341 are also different when the        actuator module 321 swings the platform body 331. Thus, in        combination with different audiovisual information given by the        audiovisual module 362, each user on the plural seats 341 can        experience different kinesthesia. Accordingly, the orientations        of the plural seats 341 are opposite to the center of the        platform body 331, so that the plural seats 341 can be disposed        at the edge of the platform body 331, and the users the plural        seats 341 can experience more intense kinesthesia in combination        with different audiovisual information given by the audiovisual        module 362. The plural seats 341 disposed on the outer side of        the platform body 331 can reduce the total height for installing        the kinesthetic device, so the device can be installed inside a        general building and save the installation cost. Therefore, the        objective of the present invention can be actually achieved.

It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described hereinis merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that awide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilledin the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A kinesthetic device with different seatingorientations, comprising: a base unit which includes a base seat; anactuator unit which includes an actuator module disposed on the baseseat; a platform unit which includes a platform body disposed on theactuator module; and a seat unit which includes plural seats disposed atthe ege of the platform body with different orientations.
 2. Thekinesthetic device with different seating orientations as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the platform body is circular in shape, and the pluralseats are disposed on the tangent line of the platform body.
 3. Thekinesthetic device with different seating orientations as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the platform body is polygonal in shape, and the pluralseats are disposed on the side of the platform body.
 4. The kinestheticdevice with different seating orientations as claimed in claim 1,wherein the plural seats are adjacent to one another side by side intheir length direction at a certain distance.
 5. The kinesthetic devicewith different seating orientations as claimed in claim 1, wherein theactuator module is a six-axis actuator assembly of the Stewart platform.6. The kinesthetic device with different seating orientations as claimedin claim 1, further comprises a position adjustment unit which includesplural position adjustment modules disposed between the plural seats andthe platform body, to adjust the position of the plural seats.
 7. Thekinesthetic device with different seating orientations as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the seat unit further includes a safety componentdisposed in the seat.
 8. The kinesthetic device with different seatingorientations as claimed in claim 1, further comprises a control unitwhich includes a control module connected electrically to the actuatormodule, and an audiovisual module connected electrically to the controlmodule.
 9. The kinesthetic device with different seating orientations asclaimed in claim 8, wherein the audiovisual module is composed of pluralvideo and audio playback components.
 10. The kinesthetic device withdifferent seating orientations as claimed in claim 9, wherein theaudiovisual module is provided with plural memory components to storedifferent video and audio data, so that the plural video and audioplayback components can play different video and audio information.